Public hygiene : CM orders action against illegal waste disposal sites

Shahbaz directs officials to ensure garbage is thrown at designated sites

LAHORE:

Action should be taken against people throwing waste at places other than designated by the government, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said in Monday.

He was addressing a meeting held to review measures for the elimination of illegal sites for disposal of solid waste in cities. “New landfill sites should be identified for disposal of solid waste in a proper manner. Any lacunae in the law regarding action against elements disposing garbage at these sites should be immediately removed,” he said.

The CM expressed displeasure over the illegal sites for the disposal of solid waste in Lahore and other cities. He strongly reprimanded the officials concerned. He directed them to take action against elements throwing of garbage in these illegal sites. The chief minister directed the officials to set up a committee to address the lack of coordination among government departments and agencies over the issue. The committee will submit its report in three days.

He said that housing schemes and cooperative societies should be directed to dispose of garbage at approved sites. “No violation in this regard will be tolerated. Housing schemes and cooperative societies are earning billions of rupees. They cannot be allowed to play with people’s health. All possible measures will be taken for providing a clean atmosphere to the people in the province. The departments concerned will have to play an important role in this regard,” he said.



The meeting decided to form a steering committee that would monitor short-term measures for elimination of illegal dumping sites for solid waste.

“It is the responsibility of the government departments to take immediate notice of illegal garbage disposal sites. Illegal sites for dumping waste have become breeding places for diseases. Their immediate elimination is the responsibility of the departments concerned,” he said.

Minister for Housing Tanvir Aslam Malik attended the meeting from Chakwal through video link. MNA Mehar Ishtiaq Ahmad and Local Government Secretary Khawaja Ahmad Hassan were also present.

British High Commissioner in Pakistan Philip Barton also met the chief minister on Monday.

Matters of mutual interest, promotion of bilateral relations and cooperation in different sectors were discussed at the meeting. The chief minister said that there were friendly relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. “The UK is an important trade partner of Pakistan and is extending commendable cooperation in education, health and other social sectors,” he said.

Separately, the chief minister visited the family of an 11-year-old student near Mandi Bahauddin who had been murdered after being abused. The CM expressed sorrow over the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2015.